SPRING FLOWER TOUR REPORT

USA GROUP

28th August-02 September 2022

Excitement as Sunday 28^th August dawned which meant the EWT (Explorers World Travel) tour was about to happen after many delays – Covid/Ukraine War – but here we were with 12 eager Americans ready to travel and explore the Western Cape and Northern Cape looking for flowers and meeting the people of the area.

Our ‘Safari Beast’ which was a 24seater truck cum coach arrived at the V&A Hotel and shortly after 08h30 we were set to go on the R27 to the West Coast National Park.  Sadly en route we encountered rain and the day was overcast and cloudy which are not good signs for flower viewing!  Our usual coffee/tea break down at Tsaarbank in the Park, was welcome before we headed into the Postberg Flower Reserve. This park never fails to impress – fields and fields of flowers and this immediately puts everyone at ease.   We found ourselves up at the Langebaan viewsite where we sat on camping chairs with the “Beast” shielding us from the wind.

In the late afternoon we checked into Darling Lodge Guest House – fabulous accommodation and very comfortable!  Our first dinner together was at Kossie Sikelele the new fine dining restaurant at Evita se Perron. A 7-course dinner with interesting tastes and flavour combinations.

Monday 29^th August and we headed to Darling Orchids for their 10h00 tour – they always have stunning orchids, and the tour was enjoyed by everyone  After this we headed to Evita Se Perron for a short tour of their museum and some ‘gathering’ – Stephen decided he ‘had to’ buy a leopard for his next-door neighbour’s garden!  (Some haggling with the wire art man who said ‘his friend’ could arrange delivery for R1000!! – had us bringing the leopard back to Cape Town – for a more secure way of getting this to the USA)

Lunch today was at Ormonde Wine Estate, and it was very windy in Darling; they seated us in their indoor wine cellar which was comforting and warm.  Delicious bagels/toasted sandwiches followed with some wine tasting as well.  The white swan on their little lake is beautiful and many photos were taken of it!  At 14h00 we met Vere and Sue up at the Renosterveld Reserve opposite the Darling school.  The wind howled and this made flower viewing uncomfortable!  The minute flowers, however, did show off their beauty and after a good viewing, the group was ready to head back to the guest house for a rest.

Dinner tonight was at Hilda’s Kitchen on the Groote Post wine estate – Nic Pentz delighted the group with his stories and Debbie served us a delicious dinner – Darling Mushrooms with a fabulous creamy sauce; Lamb Shanks with delicious crunchy vegetables; to end a fabulous milk tart (traditional South African dessert).

Tuesday morning and it was time to leave Darling for Nieuwoudtville –  the group chose to head along the road to Elands Baai – just outside Dwaskersbos we stopped at the Little Red Schoolhouse padstalletjie and it was decided to head to take add Lamberts Bay to the route– the USA group was ever so excited to photograph the birds at the bird island – WRONG DECISION – after detouring we entered Lamberts Bay to discover their Tourism office no longer exists and the BIRD ISLAND was closed for renovations!

We enjoyed our picnic lunches just off the beach and a few of the USA Group took a stroll and did get some photos they enjoyed.  A unique experience for the group was paying R2 to use a garage toilet and many laughs were had by the group.

Word was out that Nieuwoudtville had excessive winds and we were told on arrival in VanRynsdorp that 12 power pylons were destroyed leaving the town with no electricity!  Mariette met us on De Lande Farm and was clearly stressed as they had to call an electrician off a job in Lamberts Bay to come and attend to their generator.  Dinner at  the Papkuilsfontein Farm Kitchen was excellent – lamb being the favourite to eat in the Northern Cape – the shanks Alrie prepared were fall-off-the-bone and delicious!

Wednesday morning and back to the Farm Kitchen for breakfast – and then the group had a 10h00 appointment with Eugene at Hantam.  Eugene has left the employ of this botanical garden but he is such an asset that they brought him back for guided flower tours.  He endeared himself, once again, to the USA group giving them well over their hour on tour.  Lunch was at Nedersetting Restaurant where they had prepared a Butternut/Feta quiche which was eaten by all despite saying when it was announced that we would be having lunch “Wow we’re not hungry” but fresh air obviously did the trick with their appetites.

The USA group then spent the afternoon at Papkuilsfontein farm – their tour started at 14h00 and we received a call at 16h30 that Willem and his son were finishing their tour with a flower bulb viewing and they would stay at the farm until dinner was served.  They all loved this tour and then enjoyed a buffet dinner – Bobotie/Leg of Lamb/Roast Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes – what a spread followed by a delicious dessert – “Wow at this rate we will all have to go on diet when we get home”

On Thursday morning the group enjoyed a full breakfast at Papkuilsfontein, and we headed along the R364 over the Botterkloof Pass looking for Travellers Rest – we were told by Willem’s son that it was 60kms from the farm – turned out it was more like 95kms – and many of the ladies were uncomfortable without a toilet stop!  Our arrival in Clanwilliam had everyone ‘dying’ for a good coffee and something to eat!  Some of the group enjoyed this at the coffee shop at the Yellow Aloe guest house.

We headed through to Citrusdal and checked into the Cederkloof Botanical Retreat where their cottages are spaced apart and we had a short time to enjoy the serenade of birds before dinner in their conference room where Steve of Hebron prepared a Rooibos / Wine pairing with local wines – a good introduction for the USA group to these products of the area.

On Friday it was our last day, and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Salomies Grapevine on the ByDi Dam resort at the start of R303 which was our preferred route today to keep away from the traffic and trucks on the N7!  This full route from Citrusdal to Ceres is 178km – part gravel/part tar but stunning, stark beauty – by 11h00 we arrived at Welkomin in Op-die-Berg where Lize showed true country hospitality. She had set out a table with little savour delicacies which, once again, everyone enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea.

We managed to get the group back to the Lanzerac Hotel by just before 15h00 in time for their cellar tour.

Sadly, this was the end of a tour that Brian and I enjoyed immensely – thanks to the USA group for their enthusiasm and joy at everything we showed them – this made our task that much easier!

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